guitarist-s music theory book

by PeTer Vogl
copyright 2007 by Watch & learn, inc., First edition all righTs reserVeD. any copying, arranging, or adapting of this work
without the consent of the owner is an infringement of copyright.
Click this icon to hear the companion audio tracks.
Introduction
The Guitarist's Music Theory Book CD, track 1/87, disc 1/1
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secTion 2 - inTerVals
The musical alphabet 6 2-3 The half step 7 4 The Whole step/Quiz 8 5-6 The minor 3rd 9 7 The major 3rd/Quiz 10 8-9 The Perfect 4th 11 10 The Tritone 11 11 The Perfect 5th/Quiz 12 12-13 The minor 6th 13 14 The major 6th/Quiz 13 15-16 The minor 7th 14 17 The major 7th/Quiz 14 18-19 The octave 15 20 The unison/Quiz 15 21-22 conclusion of intervals 16 23
secTion 3 - scales
What is a scale/sharps and Flats 18 The chromatic scale 19 24-25 The major scale 20-22 26-30 The minor scale 23-25 31-33 enharmonic scales 25 relative major and minor 26-27 34-35 Parallel major and minor 28 36 harmonic minor 29 37-38 melodic minor 30-31 39-40 using major and minor scales 32 minor Pentatonic scales 33-36 41-44
Introduction
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major Pentatonic scales 37-38 45-48 The blues scale 41 49 What is a lick or riff 43 50
secTion 4 - chorDs
Four Qualities of chords 45 51 The major chord 46-48 52-55 The minor chord 49-50 56-58 The Diminished chord 51 59-60 The augmented chord 52 61-62 comparing the Four Qualities 53 63 more complex chords 54 64 arpeggios 55 65
secTion 5 - chorDs anD scales
chords in major keys 57-61 66-67 chords in minor keys 62 68 chords from harmonic minor 63 69 chords from melodic minor 64 70 summary of chords and scales 65
secTion 6 - chorD Progressions
The 1-5 chord Progression 67-69 71-74 special Function of the 5 chord 70 75 Tension and release 71-72 76 The 1-4-5 chord Progression 73-75 77-79 The 2-5-1 chord Progression 77-78 80-83 The 1-6-2-5 chord Progression 79 84-85 summary of chord Progressions 80
secTion 7 - reaDing charTs /nashVille number sysTem
sample chart 82 86 explanation of chart 83 conclusion and Quiz answers 84 87
Page
Introduction
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v
inTroDucTion
The Guitarist's Music Theory Book is designed to help all guitar players achieve a better understanding of the guitar and of the music they play. This clear, step by step method includes many examples, large and easy to read notation and tablature, and a sequence of instruction that has been meticulously developed and tested over a twenty year period. Understanding music theory will help you establish a firm foundation that will enable you to enjoy guitar playing for many years.
The auThor
Peter Vogl, the author of this book, has been a professional performer and teacher in the atlanta area for over twenty years. he was raised in michigan and went to college at the university of georgia, where he majored in classical guitar performance. he also did post graduate work at James madison university. Peter has set up and directed six different schools of music in the atlanta area and currently works at Jan smith studios as a session player and guitar instructor. he has written several instructional courses including Introduction to Blues Guitar book & DVD, Introduction to Rock Guitar book & DVD, The Acoustic Rock Guitar book & DVD, The Guitarist's Tablature Book, The Guitarist's Chord Book, The Guitarist's Scale Book, The Guitarist's Lick book & DVD, and the Let's Jam! CD Series (seven different jam along cDs).
WaTch & learn ProDucTs really Work
Twenty five years ago, Watch & Learn revolutionized music instructional courses by developing step by step instructional methods that were tested thoroughly on students before publication. These products, which have dramatically improved the understanding and success of all guitar players, have evolved into Watch & learn products that continue to set the standard of music instruction today with sales of almost 2 million products since 1979. The Guitarist's Music Theory Book will significantly increase your success and enjoyment while playing the guitar.
cD counTers
The cD counters are included in this book to show where each lesson is located on the companion cD. use your remote control on the cD player to skip to the track you want.
Introduction
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guitar notation
TablaTure This book is written in both tablature and standard music notation. if you wish
to learn to read music, consult your local music store for a good book or ask your music teacher for an explanation. We will explain tablature because it is easy to learn if you are teaching yourself and because a lot of popular guitar music is available in tablature.
Tablature is a system for writing music that shows the proper string and fret to play and which fingers to use. In guitar tablature, each line represents a string on the guitar. if the string is to be fretted, the fret number is written on the appropriate line. otherwise, a 0 is written. study the examples below until you understand them thoroughly.
1st String 2nd String 3rd String 4th String 5th String 6th String
1st string open (not fretted)
3rd string fretted @ 2nd fret
2nd string fretted @ 3rd fret
6th string open (not fretted)
The music will be divided into two sets of lines (staffs) with guitar notation on the top line and tablature on the bottom line.
guitar Tab
a D g c e a F
b bDae c F g c
eb DaFcgD
aeb F c F

don't strum
chorD charT chord and neck diagrams are used throughout this book. look at the diagrams
below and make sure you understand all of their elements.
The small x on top of the chord diagram means don't strum this string because it would be a note that is not in the chord. The o means play the open string. The letters underneath the chord are telling you what notes are in the chord. The name of the chord is at the top of the diagram. The circles tell you what fret to place the fingers in and the numbers in the circle tell you what finger to use.
This neck diagram is sideways. The numbers to the left of the diagram tell you what string it is. The 6th string is the lowest and thickest string on the guitar. The circles represent fret placement on that string and tell you what note is being played. The numbers on the bottom of the diagram are fret numbers to help you spot the fret location easily.
Am
play open string
secTion 2 inTerVals

The music alPhabeT anD PiTch before learning about intervals, we must understand the music alphabet. We only
use seven letters of our english alphabet to make up the music alphabet.
A B C D E F G
once we have used all the letters, we simply start over again. arriving at g, we may proceed by starting with a again.
(A B C D E F G)( A B C D E F G)
We can then go as high or as low as the instrument will take us. When we arrive at a letter a second time, it is twice as high or low as the previous one. For example, the note a that we typically tune to in the u.s. has a frequency of 440 hz and is often referred to as a 440. This means this note a vibrates 440 times per second. The next a we come to is one octave higher and would vibrate twice as fast. Picture a string being plucked and vibrating up and down at this rate.
The pitches that divide up the octave are determined by a mathematical formula beyond the scope of this book. it is a formula that is often referred to as "well tempered tuning".
The sounds we hear when singing or playing most instruments are called definite pitches. In other words, these sounds aren't random like the wind or noise. Definite pitches have a specific frequency that can be measured and repeated.
When we tune our instruments, we are setting these notes to these specific frequen- cies. it should be noted, however, that the guitar is never really perfectly in tune. it is a compromise of sorts. The closer we can come to this tempered tuning the better we will sound. a guitar needs to have it's intonation set and checked on a regular basis by a guitar technician or luthier. This is because the distances between the saddle, frets, and nut needs to be precise. a guitar's intonation may go bad after a while due to changes in temperature, humidity, or being dropped. This change in conditions causes the wood to expand or contract and thus the distances change as well.
Tip Heavier gauge strings offer more tone due
to their thickness.
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The minor 7Th
The minor 7th is equal to ten half steps or ten frets. The open 5th string to the 10th fret 5th string is a minor 7th interval. The 7th fret 4th string to the 8th fret 2nd string would also be an example of a minor 7th interval.
The maJor 7Th
The major 7th interval is equal to eleven half steps. The 1st fret 6th string to the 12th fret 6th string is a major 7th. The 5th fret 3rd string to the 7th fret 1st string is also a major 7th interval.
interval Quiz
6
C
B
Tip There are no hands too big or too small for
guitar, only better technique.
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The PerFecT 8Th or ocTaVe
The perfect 8th or octave is equal to twelve half steps. From the open 6th string to the 12th fret 6th string is a octave. From the 5th fret 6th string to the 7th fret 4th string is an octave. an octave means you have arrived at the same note, but 12 half steps higher. it is twice the frequency.
The unison
The unison is simply playing the same note twice. For example, the 3rd fret 6th string and the 3rd fret 6th string. They don't have to be played in the same place however. For example, the 5th fret 2nd string and the open 1st string is a unison. The 8th fret 2nd string and the 12th fret 3rd string is also a unison.
E
6
practice time up to 30 percent.
The Unison
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learning The sounDs oF inTerVals
many people use songs they are familiar with to memorize the sound of particular intervals. For example, the first two notes of "Silent Night" is a whole step. The first two notes of "Somewhere over the Rainbow" is an octave. The first two notes of the original "NBC Theme" is a major 6th. The first two notes of "There's a Place for Us" is a minor 7th. You will need to use songs you recognize instantly. Try finding a song to associate with a particular interval and it will make it easier to learn.
because this book isn't an ear training book, you will need to refer to other resources to learn to recognize intervals. software and free web sites exist for this purpose. You may also find materials at your local library and local music store.
inTerVal summary Intervals are the ground floor of harmonic music theory. Scales, chords, melodies,
and solos are all dependent upon an understanding of what intervals are and what they sound like. apply these intervals to your instrument. To make them relevant to your playing, you must spend time experimenting with intervals. how can they be found easily? What solos or chord progressions focus on particular intervals? as you progress on guitar, focus on this concept. you will greatly enhance your understanding of music. it will also cut down on the time it takes to learn a new song or solo. you will no longer have to memorize every note of a solo because you understand it better. When you first learned the multiplication tables in school, it was hard because you didn't quite understand math. as you understood the concept better, you didn't need to memorize as much. The same process applies here.
now let's move on to scales and how to build them.
6
practice playing in time.
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secTion 3 scales
What are sharps and flats? page 18 What are scales and how are they defined? page 18 What are relative minor and major? page 26 What are the harmonic and melodic minor scales? page 29-31 What are the pentatonic scales and why are they so widely page 33 used by guitarists What are licks and riffs? page 43
1
WhaT is a scale A scale is a series of single notes. That's all there is to it. There are many types
of scales with many different names and uses, but the major scale is by far the most common. other examples are the minor scale, the blues scale, the pentatonic scale, the diminished scale, the chromatic scale, and many more. Scales are defined by the number of notes that comprise them and by the series of intervals it takes to build them. The notes in the scale are also referred to as degrees. Each degree is given a number.
scales are used to solo, create melodies, connect chords together, and they are the very foundation for the chords we play. scales help establish the "key" we are in. We must learn how these scales are built in order to understand them better and use them to our advantage.
sharPs anD FlaTs
in order to work through this chapter, we must understand the concept of sharps and flats. A sharp ( ) raises a note one half step or one fret. A flat ( ) lowers a note one half step. For example, between F and g on the 6th string, there is a whole step. The fret between F and g could be called either F sharp or G flat. F sharp is one fret higher than F and G flat is one fret lower than G. F sharp and G flat are enharmonically the same because they are the same pitch.
! "
F or g! "
C
C
CB
b and c and e and F are always a half step apart. Tip
Whenever transporting a guitar, be sure and use a guitar case or gig bag.
1
The chromaTic scale
The chromatic scale is a twelve note scale. It is comprised solely of half steps. For example, playing all the half steps from the open 6th string to the 12th fret 6th string, is a chromatic scale. a very common 1st position chromatic scale on the guitar starts on the open 6th string and then plays all the way up to the 4th fret 1st string.
Example a one octave chromatic scale up the 6th string.
Chromatc Example . a 1st position chromatic scale. This is a great exercise as well. Play it forwards
and backwards. If you compare the first twelve notes of this exercise with the previous exercise, you will see they are the same.
Tip There are only 12 notes to play but there are
an infinite amount of rhythms and dynamics.
Chromatic Scale 2
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The maJor scale
The major scale is perhaps the most important scale to understand. The major scale is a seven note scale. The series of notes and the intervals used to build the major scale are what defines this scale. The C major scale is the best major scale to start with. let's look at this scale.
The C major scale contains the notes C D E F G A B C. The last C is the first note of the scale repeated, so there are seven notes in this scale. now let's examine the intervals that make up this scale. (From c to D is a whole step, from D to e is a whole step, from e to F is a half step, from F to g is whole step, from g to a is a whole step, and from b to c is a half step).
here's an important fact to remember. on any instrument, b and c are only a half step apart. The same goes for e and F. all the other notes are a whole step apart. so here is our scale with the intervals.
A major scale has seven notes and the intervals that make up the scale are whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. any major scale can be constructed using this definition. If we wanted to build a G major scale, we would simply start on the note g and build the scale with the correct intervals. here is the g major scale.
!
Tip If you wish to learn more about scales, purchase The Guitarist's Scale Book by Watch & Learn.
Major Scale
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G Major Scale
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